John Martin
SIR Research
CEO
John Martin serves two roles — he is the President and CEO of SIR Research, the 44-year-old marketing research firm behind the Boomer Project, as well as CEO of the Boomer Project. John provides the overall strategic guidance both organizations.
Prior to joining SIR, John led the marketing efforts of PBM Products, a $100 million consumer products company specializing in nutritional store brand and national brand product lines. While at PBM, John orchestrated new product launches and promotional programs with leading retailers including Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger, CVS and dozens of other regional chains.
John is on the road giving presentations and seminars to audiences across the country. Along with Matt, he wrote Boomer Consumer, and contributes to the Op/Ed column Viva the Vital.
John began his career at regional advertising agency Siddall, rising to the position of President.
John is active in his community. He recently served as the President of the Central Virginia Chapter of the American Marketing Association, and is currently serving as a trustee on the MCV Foundation Board and on the board of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
Read what some recent clients have said about John’s presentations on today’s Boomer Consumer.
Joan Eisenstodt
Joan Eisenstodt, whose expertise is in facilitation and training, meetings program and delivery design, and contract negotiations, brings thirty plus years of experience to her business. She founded Eisenstodt Associates, a Washington, DC-based conference consulting, facilitation, and training consultancy in 1981. In recent years, Joan has been a leader among the few in the country to facilitate the open session format of meetings. This type of meeting allows attendees to have peer interaction and problem solving opportunities through the use of a structured beginning and end but with the focus on participants choosing topics they wish to explore and individuals with whom they want to participate.
Her abiding passions for the hospitality industry and for life-long learning allow her to bring a breadth of experience and knowledge to the conference. Session attendees will be challenged to share their experiences, expertise, and solutions as related to their cultural tourism organizations.
In addition to clients with whom she works, Joan is retained as a hospitality expert witness and is on the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Convention and Event Tourism. She serves on the Executive Board of the Newton-Marasco Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to inspire responsible environmental stewardship.
Ek-Leng Chua-Miller, President/CEO, JumpStart Point of Arrival, LLC
Ms. Chua-Miller has spent the last two decades successfully combining the worlds of direct marketing, science and technology. In 2005 her longtime passion to assist members of the nonprofit industry led her to found JumpStart Point of Arrival, and she presently continues to apply her knowledge and expertise toward promoting growth and efficiency within several such organizations. Prior to this, Ek-Leng served as the Director of Credit Management and Business Analysis for The Columbia House Company, where she provided strategic direction for the business through innovation and advanced research. Prior still, she accumulated an additional twelve years of direct marketing experience within BMG Direct, managing the company’s risk profile. Her expertise in statistical modeling, database analysis and customer profiling was instrumental in leading each of these organizations to cost savings, response rate increases and process efficiencies. Ek-Leng takes great pride in her ability to transform highly complex scientific concepts into effective concrete solutions within a wide range of disciplines. She remains fully committed to the ideals of high integrity, accountability and honesty, and has received professional training as an executive leader by Human Potential Project (HP2). Ms. Chua-Miller is well known in the Direct Marketing industry for her analytic, managerial and interpersonal communication skills, and has served as both the Treasurer and Vice-President of the Direct Marketing Credit Association. Ek-Leng is an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and holds advanced degrees in Applied Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science from Western Michigan University and Purdue University. She and her husband currently reside in Indianapolis, enjoy traveling and ballroom dancing, and generously support a wide array of charitable causes.
Timothy Cook, Founder & Chief Statistician, JumpStart Point of Arrival, LLC
For well over a decade Mr. Cook has enjoyed transforming abstract scientific theory into tangible, practical, and valuable enterprise solutions. Since co-founding JumpStart Point of Arrival in 2005, Tim has helped organizations within both the profit and nonprofit sectors to develop and implement initiatives that improve efficiency, increase response, and foster growth. Prior to this, Mr. Cook served as a statistician within the Business Analysis team at The Columbia House Company and the Credit Management team at BMG Direct. In these roles, he conducted database analysis and data mining research, performed customer profiling and segmentation, and constructed highly complex statistical models in support of business directives. Tim holds advanced degrees in Mathematics from Georgetown College and Indiana University, has been listed in Who’s Who, and is an active member of the American Statistical Association and Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. He currently resides in Indianapolis, where he enjoys hiking with his dog, reading an eclectic collection of books, following Kentucky Wildcats basketball, and supporting several of his favorite charities.
Dana L. Huber
Ms. Huber currently holds the position of Vice President for the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail. Her full-time work resides with her family’s agri-tourism business located in Southern Indiana called Huber’s, Orchard, Winery, & Vineyards. Dana’s expertise with both organizations lies within the marketing and public relations areas.
Just a few years back, Dana and her husband, Ted, decided to pursue the possibility of starting a wine trail in Indiana. Although attempts had been made to start a wine trail, the concept never took off until the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail was launched in 2002. Much time, energy, planning, and coordinating was spent in 2002 in order to successfully kick-off the first wine trail promotion in June of 2003.
Today, eight wineries have cooperatively teamed together to form the Indiana Uplands Wine and Grape Growers’ Cooperative. This team of individuals has been successful in applying and receiving State and Federal Grant opportunities which have led to the completion of a five year strategic business and marketing plan. The mission of the trail is simple:
“To promote a quality wine experience for our consumers by providing options for educational and enjoyable outings.”
To date, three consecutive passport programs have been circulated to wine enthusiasts representing over 20 different states.
Eric Freeman
Eric Freeman is the Director of the Indiana Artisan Development Project. A sixth-generation Hoosier, Eric brings a career of tourism, arts, and public relations to the position. Having lived in Noblesville, Greencastle, Culver, and Hanover; he also shares a good understanding of rural capacity around the state and what Indiana artisans offer. Eric holds a degree in English from DePauw and a master’s degree from Notre Dame. He has chaired chamber of commerce and CVB Boards as well as a 40-event arts and culture series. He is eager for this new state initiative to benefit artisans statewide while at the same time benefitting local economic development, tourism, and cultural initiatives.
Ra Joy, Executive Director - Illinois Arts Alliance
Ra Joy is an artist and arts advocate with extensive experience in public policy and the congressional arena. As executive director for one of the premier statewide advocacy organization's in the nation, Mr. Joy oversees research, capacity building and communication efforts to advance widespread support for the arts and arts education in Illinois.
Prior to joining the Illinois Arts Alliance, Mr. Joy served for six years as a senior staffer for U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-9). Motivated by the belief that democracy is a verb and the instinct to be creative is universal, Mr. Joy serves as Chair of the Evanston Ethic Arts Festival and is a member of the board of directors for Mikva Challenge, the Chicago Public Art Group and the Next Theatre. Mr. Joy also serves on the Executive Committee of the Americans for the Arts State Arts Action Network.
He was selected as a fellow for the 2005 class of Leadership Greater Chicago and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Illinois University. Born and raised in Evanston, Illinois he currently resides in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood with his wife, Falona, and their three sons.
Seth Hancock
Seth Hancock is the Video Production Manager for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association. He launched podcasting for the ICVA titled “Doing Indy”, a weekly video podcast that promotes all of the great venues, attractions, and people that the city has to offer. The lively and entertaining podcasts have been nationally acclaimed and were the basis for the award of the 2007 $25,000 Efroymson Award for Excellence in Cultural Tourism Development associated with last year’s Indiana Cultural Tourism Conference. Prior to working with the ICVA, Seth was employed in advertising with many well-recognized companies such as Coca-Cola, Buick, Papa John’s Pizza and Valvoline. He also honed his talent for comedy by working for two years performing with the Second City Improvisational Troupe. Seth is a graduate of Indiana University. |
